It might have been a while since his last film appearance, but it looks like Liam Neeson is gaining traction online, and all for the wrong reasons. The Star Wars: The Phantom Menace star is currently in hot water after sharing a story about him wanting to kill any kind of "black bastard" he finds after hearing that a close friend was raped by a black man.
Speaking in an interview with Independent, Neeson decides to talk about revenge, the central theme of his upcoming film, Cold Pursuit. During his discussion with the publication, the actor known for films like Schindler's List, Batman Begins, and Taken, decides to open up about his own personal story.
According to the actor, someone close to him had been raped and his immediate reaction was to ask whether she knew who it was. Though she couldn't remember his identity, she did know that he was a black person, and after hearing her story, Neeson felt like hunting down any sort "black bastard" down.
"I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I'd be approached by somebody – I'm ashamed to say that – and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some [Neeson gestures air quotes with his fingers] ‘black bastard' would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him," the actor admitted.
Of course, Neeson did understand that his thoughts were malicious and awful.
"It's awful. But I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the f*** are you doing,' you know?" the Phantom Menace star went on. "I come from a society – I grew up in Northern Ireland in the Troubles – and, you know, I knew a couple of guys that died on hunger strike, and I had acquaintances who were very caught up in the Troubles, and I understand that need for revenge, but it just leads to more revenge, to more killing and more killing, and Northern Ireland's proof of that. All this stuff that's happening in the world, the violence, is proof of that, you know. But that primal need, I understand."
Netizens soon put Neeson up on the stake after the interview was published, many comparing his story to comments made by Lord of the Rings star Vigo Mortensen late last year. Others have been waiting how the Taken star's publicist is going to take the news. Others yet have been making memes out of his interview.
Neeson's story has certainly sparked an interesting debate online. While the actor's reaction to his friend's rape was certainly racist, he did wake up and realize how awful his thoughts were. However, while acknowledging the trouble with his feelings and admitting shame over them doesn't necessarily erase the fact that vengeful and racist thoughts of killing any "black bastard" he finds that perpetrates violence against people of color.
What are your thoughts on the issue? Feel free to use the comment section below.
Read: Could Star Wars' Anthony Daniels Be Teasing An Episode IX Title Reveal?
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Fandoms